Speakers & Artists
Anthony Hackett
Anthony Hackett is the CEO and creative force behind SONset Friday Entertainment, dedicated to producing faith-driven, inspiring, and innovative entertainment. An award-winning actor, filmmaker, and speaker, Hackett draws his lifelong inspiration from God and has built a career defined by authenticity, creativity, and purpose. Attending Washington Adventist University with a focus on Metropolitan Ministries, he has written, directed, and produced numerous Faith-based films released in major theaters and on platforms like Amazon Prime and STARZ, earning 17 film festival awards and over 20 nominations. His collaborations span industry giants such as AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas. As an actor, he has shared the screen with notable talents like Tommy Ford and Karen Abercrombie, while his engaging, humor-infused speaking style has made him a sought-after speaker across the U.S. and beyond, including for the Department of Homeland Security. Outside of his professional pursuits, Anthony treasures time with his wife and daughters, enjoys basketball and chess, and continually seeks Spiritual growth, and new knowledge to fuel his creative vision.
Christie Thomas- Demystifying Family Faith: 4 Truths your parents need to know.
Christie Thomas was a Children’s Ministries Director for overa decade and is now a family discipleship coach for parents who need equipping, support, and encouragement. Her books for kids and parents help families cultivate faith-filled moments. She lives with her husband and three boys in Alberta, Canada.
Nelson Silva
Dr. Nelson Silva has served in the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference since 2016. He currently leads as Director of Young Adult Ministries, Public Campus Ministries, and Children’s Ministries. His academic training at Andrews University and Fuller Seminary has equipped him for a diverse range of roles, including Home and School Advisor in public schools, youth pastor, church planter, and district pastor.
Dr. Silva has played a key role in developing faith-based after-school programs across elementary, middle, and high public schools. He has also collaborated with the North American Division Youth Department in establishing the Adventist Public High School Network.
In his free time, Nelson enjoys writing, running, hiking, reading, and playing both the guitar and the cuatro.
Brooke Wong
Brooke Wong graduated from Southern Adventist University in 2011 with a BA in pastoral care.
In 2012, she married the love of her life, Jeremy Wong, a theology major and together they began working in the state of Ohio, where they would spend the first decade of their marriage.
Brooke spent the first five years of her career working primarily with high school students and then began transitioning to work with children in both the school and the church setting shortly after the birth of her daughter, JJ.
A few years later, Brooke and Jeremy welcomed their son Samuel into the family and moved to Tennessee where Brooke serves as the children’s pastor and Jeremy as the youth pastor of the Madison Campus Church, close to Nashville, Tennessee.
Steve Case
Steve loves God and he loves people. He considers these two ingredients to be the basic qualifications for ministry. He resides in Carmichael, California where he's president of Involve Youth, a supporting ministry of the SDA Church which energizes young people for service. Steve is an international speaker, trainer and author. For more than 40 years he has served in various capacities, such as a youth pastor, seminary professor, and consultant.
In addition to the special training that his daughter (now an adult) has provided, Steve has been a children’s Sabbath School teacher at each level as his daughter moved through the ranks. Steve has led numerous Children’s Church programs in his local church. He also prepares young people for baptism and utilizes the current junior baptismal study guide It’s My Choice, geared especially for concrete thinkers. He happened to co-author this series with his wife, Marit. His also wrote Connection: How to Have a Relationship with God.
Dr. Case coordinates the Intergenerational Church concentration for the Andrews University Doctor of Ministry program.
Steve has led a number of family mission trips for Maranatha Volunteers International, which involves school construction, day camp intercultural activities, and a camp meeting atmosphere and sharing for ages 5-80+.
Steve has assisted in the NAD children’s ministry certification program in the past. He also ministers to teens and young adults and continues to develop resources in forms like books, games, videos, and online resources.
www.childrensministryretreat.com/speakerresources
Beth Guckenberger
Beth and her husband, Todd, live with their family in Cincinnati, Ohio where they serve as Co-Executive Directors of Back2Back Ministries. After graduating from Indiana University, the Guckenbergers moved to Monterrey, Mexico where they lived for 15 years. Between biological, foster, and adopted children, they have raised eleven children.
Beth is the author of eleven books including adult and children’s titles. She travels and speaks regularly at conferences, youth gatherings and church services about reckless faith. Her style is based in story-telling and she draws from her vast field experience as a missionary, Bible teacher and parent for illustrations of biblical concepts.
Heather Thompson-day
Dr. Heather Thompson Day is an interdenominational speaker and has been a contributor for Religion News Service, Christianity Today, Newsweek and the Barna Group. She is also the host of Viral Jesus, a podcast with Christianity Today, that is in the top 200 of all Christian podcasts in the country.
Heather is an Associate Professor of Communication at Andrews University. She is passionate about supporting women, and runs an online community called I’m That Wife which has over 270k followers.
Heather’s writing has been featured on outlets like the Today Show, and the National Communication Association. She has been interviewed by BBC Radio Live and The Wall Street Journal.
She believes her calling is to stand in the gaps of our churches for young people. She is the author of 8 books; including It’s Not Your Turn, and I’ll See You Tomorrow.
She resides in Michigan, with her husband, Seth Day, and their three children, London, Hudson, and Sawyer Day.
Pastor Gerry Lopez | Event Host
Pr. Gerry Lopez is the NAD Children’s Ministries Associate Director since November 2018. He has served as a youth pastor and a children’s pastor in several churches for the past 17 years. He holds a BA in Pastoral Ministry from Antillean Adventist University and is currently working towards his Masters at Andrews University. Pr. Lopez loves working with children and teaching them the great news of salvation. He understands the importance of resourcing our Children’s Ministries leaders from Union level to the local church level and the importance of discipling children for Jesus because this is the time they will honestly and truly desire to say yes to Jesus. Pr. Gerry is married to Eunice and has raised two wonderful young adult daughters.
Dr. Sherri Uhrig | Event Host
Dr. Sherri Uhrig’s passion is that all our children have the opportunity to say “YES” to Jesus! She has worked in various areas of children’s ministries for more than 30 years, including conference Children’s Ministry director, Union Children’s Ministries representative, daycare administrator, Kindergarten teacher, and writing for faith-based preschool curricula. Sherri is currently the Children’s Ministry director for the North American Division.
Sherri is an alumna of Southwestern Adventist College and has a Master's in Children and Family Ministry from Bethel Seminary and a Doctorate in Next Gen Ministry from Liberty University.
Sherri and Bob have two beautiful children and lots of grandchildren… just ask them!